Freedom’s Nest

I live in Illinois, where Barack Obama is currently Senator.  During the election for Senate, I was working for the Teamsters Union.  The Teamsters have been huge supporters of Obama’s, and as such, we all took part in the Election Day process.  For most of us, it was a way to get out of the regular workday and be outside.

I had hoped after hearing Obama speak that he would one day run for President.  He moved me in ways no other politician ever had.  I was doubtful it would be so soon, but I had hope for his running.  One of the things that I liked about him early on was his call for reform of Political Donations.

Prior to his run for President, he had been discussing this need for reform and really pushing for it.  He recognized the likelihood of corporations and special interest groups to donate large sums expecting or trading for a politician in their pocket.  He realized how this corruption could damn this country and deteriorate the People’s faith in Government.

When he announced his run for President, I wondered how he would stand on this issue.  He stood firm.  I was impressed.  I think many others were as well.  He does not take from lobbyists and special interest groups, only individuals.  He has raised mass amounts of campaign funds in this way.  More than the other candidates.

His website states: “This campaign is about building a different kind of politics. We don’t take money from Washington lobbyists or special-interest political action committees. Instead, our broad base of individual donors ensures that this campaign answers to no one but the people.”

Here is the thing with politics.  No candidate will ever make everyone happy.  It’s not going to happen.  We all differ on the issues.  Some of us are to the extreme left or right, but most of us are on a spectrum somewhere in the middle.  We swing to whichever candidate fits closest to our beliefs.  Some of us choose the lesser of two evils, some choose the one we think is best suited for the job, some choose to make history or to change the present.

One thing I think we all can agree on is the need for politicians with integrity.  Barack Obama has integrity.  I think this is evident in many ways, but the most obvious is his stance on Political Donations.  I think this alone makes him stand out and has pulled so many to his side. 

Never in my lifetime has a candidate created such a wave of excitement about politics, especially among the young voters.  I think some of this has to do with the dislike for George W., but I think a lot has to do with the man himself. 

I was originally for Hillary; Partly Woman Power, partly what she stands for and partly my concern that Barack was too green.  I knew I would support him, though, if Hillary didn’t make it.  I am not one to declare myself as a Democrat; I prefer to judge the individual merits of the candidate.  In this campaign, however, there was never any question of party.

That initial interest in Barack Obama’s call for reform on Political Donations has continued my interest and that of so many others.  That unique declaration was like the call to arms for so many tired of the current state of things.  That integrity which has allowed so many to feel confident that he is the man to give us the Change we can Believe in.

Political donations are the backbone of any presidential campaign, without them there simply is no campaign.

Assumed Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain is finding direct donations a bit tough to come by. Reports have circulated about the big money institutions, which supported George W. Bush, being less than receptive to McCain and his presidential aspirations. Financial and energy sectors have been reluctant to toss their money or support behind McCain mainly because they him see as the underdog in November. McCain must find a way to demonstrate he is a serious contender, a daunting task. But his camp faces an even larger conundrum; motivating the conservative base.

McCain has yet to receive the type of individual donations that President Bush tapped in 2000 and 2004. Unlike Bush or his opponent Barack Obama, the individual voter has yet to embrace McCain. His records indicate a total of $144 million raised, compared to Obama’s $295 through May, but most McCain’s money has come from special interests groups. On the flip side, Obama has been rolling in the individual contributions.

McCain is lacking in thisbell wheather indicator, which is a troubling trend for the McCain people. Unlike interest groups, which often donate to both sides, an individual contribution will translate into a vote.  

Although individual donations are dwarfed in amount by the large group contributions, on Election Day one vote is one vote. The money gap between McCain and Obama will be filled by the Republican National Committee, which typically is an efficient money machine. The problem for McCain is what or who is going to fill the motivation gap between the two party bases. McCain’s fate in Novermber will determined by finding an answer to this question.